Vertically and laterally expansible continuous mining machine



March 17, 1959 c. H. SNYDER ETAL 2,878,001

, VERTICALLY AND LATERALLY EXPANSIBLE con'rmuous MINING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. I ffordlfid Filed Sept. 8, 1.949

fih l wr C. H. SNYDER VERTICALLY March 17, 1959 ET AL AND LATERALLY EXPANSIB CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 March 17, 1959 c H. SNYDER ETAL 2,

VERTICALLY AND-LATERALLY EXPANSIBLE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fil ed Sept. 8, 1949 5 m% w 9 W m% 7 M 4 I? m Z w d March 17, 1959 c. H. SNYDER ET AL 2,878,001.

VERTICALLY AND LATERALL Y EXPANSIBLE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 7 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 awg ml March 17, 1959 c. H. SNYDER ET AL 2,878,001

VERTICALLY AND LATERALLY EXPANSIBLE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 VERTICALLY AND LATERALLY EXPANSIBLE CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Clifford H. Snyder, Dormont, Pa., and Harry Calvin Funk, Salem, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments,

. to The Colmol Company, New Lexington, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,556

17 Claims. (Cl. 2629) This invention relates generally to mining, mining methods and practices and more particularly to method .and apparatus for chipping coal by overlapping rotary chipping heads that are expansible horizontally and vertically to accommodate different widths of mining cuts and different heights of coal seams.

In some coal mining fields the coal seam is substantially uniform in dimension and lies substantially horizontal whereas other coal fields contain seams of coal that vary in height and also slope in oneor several directions. Upon exploration by surface boring in a coal field that is to be developed for mining, detailed data may be accumulated to complete maps showing the variations of the coal seam throughout the field, together with the character of the coal. This information permits the mining engineer to properly and expeditiously lay out the main haul entries and ventilating entries together with the complete layout and progressive work to .be carried on for opening and'removing the coal from the entire field. The more detailed the exploration is carried out the more accurately the planning and execution of the mining as to the location and size of the entries and rooms required to remove the coal under a specific mining practice.

The purpose of this invention is the provision of method and apparatus that enables the development of a mine by progressive continuous mining. To accomplish this purpose it is advantageous to employ a continuous ma chine that is capable of continuously digging the coal along a prescribed path and which can vary the width as Well as the height of the tunnel being cut and alsofollow the slope or drift of the coal seam as it changes. v

Another and very importantobject and advantage of the continuous mining machinecomprising this invention resides in the fact that the expansion of the cutting mechanism horizontally as well as vertically permits, greater maneuverability of the machine in the mine as the tunnel exemplification without limiting the invention or claims thereto, certain practical embodiments of the invention wherein:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of the forepart of the machine comprising this invention; H

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

United States PatentO 2,878,001 I Patented Mar. 17, 195 9 Fig. 4 is a'vertical section taken on the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in the previous figures.

. members to form a rigid body member. This body member carries the top idler rollers 4 and the bottom track rollers 5 together with suitable end sprocket wheels such asshown at 6 for the support and drive of the endless tracks 7 and S. The endless tracks 7 and 8 are inde- 1 pendently propelled by hydraulic motors, not shown,

which obtain their power from the pump 9, as shown in Fig. 2, that is driven by the electric motor 10, Which is preferably a variable speed motor. The motors driving the endless tracks 7 and 8 are also independently controlled for providing complete maneuverability of the body 1.

The forward ends ofthe frames 2 and3 of the body 1 are provided with vertically extending T-shaped waysll and 11a which project beyond the ends of the tracks 7 jand 8 as shown in Fig. 5V and are arranged to receive complementary channels in the upper and lower center castings 12 and 13 as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The 'upper and lower center castings 12 and 13 represent gear boxes v for housing the rotary mechanism that operates the rotary cutting heads mounted on the front thereof. The whole 1 of the rotary cutting head assembly provides four additional castings or gear boxes as shown in the drawings at 14, 15, 16 and 17 which represent the upper and lower gear box castings of the left and right sides, respectively,

, of the machine as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. The complementary way channels 18 and 19 in the rear face of the upper and lower castings 12 and 13 are lined for thepurpose of smoothly guiding the vertical movement of these castings relative to each other. 3 I

As shown in Fig. '5, the piston and cylinder structures 20 are for the purpose of raising and lowering the castings 12 and .13 relative to one, another. The cylinders 21 are for the purpose of raising and lowering the lower casting '13 relative to the body 1. As shown in Fig; 2, the cylinder 20 issupported by the lugs 22 on the back of v the casting 12; whereas its piston is connected. to the rearthrough the end gear boxcastings14 and 16 and15 and wardly extending lug 23 of the casting 13. Thus, by expanding or contracting the pistonwithin the cylinders 20, which function as a power means the castings 12 and 13 may be moved relative to one another. As also indicated in Fig. 2,"the piston and cylinder assembly 21jand its piston is pivoted to the forepart of the frame 1 by the lugs 24 adjacent the top of the machine and the lower end of the cylinder is attached to the rearwardly and upwardly extending lugs 25' on the lower castingv 13. Thus the casting 13 constitutes a support on the front or forward end of the body. Thus, by manipulating theexpansion and contraction of the piston and cylinder assembly 21, which function as a power means the lower easting or support 13, together with all of the parts associated therewith, may be raised or lowered relative to the body 1 of the machine or the ground upon which the machine is traversing. a

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the diagonally opposite upper and lower corners of the gear box castings forming the rotary head assembly are provided with ways 26 and 27, 28 and 29. These ways are secured to the intermediate castings 12 and 13, respectively, and extend 17 to permit them to be moved laterally outwardly of the intermediategear box castings 12 and 13. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the upper and lower end castings 16 and 17 are provided with piston and cylinder assemblies or power means 30 and the upper and lower castings 14 and 15 are provided with the piston and cylinder assemblies or power means 31. The cylinders of these piston and cylinder assemblies are opened toward the center of the machine and the pistons extending therefrom are fastened to lugs on the intermediate castings as indicated at 32.

Thus, by expanding the cylinders 30 or 31 the end gear box castings 14, 15, 16 and 17 may be extended laterally of the intermediate gear box castings 12 and 13. It is preferable to have independent controls for the actuating of the pairs of pistons 30 and 31 to permit a selected side to be extended a selected distance rather than to require the extension of all the end castings simultaneously. However, it is preferable to have the upper and lower gear box castings on each end move laterally simultaneously.

The rotary cutting heads 33 to 40, inclusive, are each mounted on their respective shafts marked with the same reference number and indicated by the letter a and each of these shafts is carried by spaced bearings in the front and rear walls of their respective gear box casting members and the worm gear marked with the letter b is mounted on the shaft between the bearings as shown in Fig. 4. The worm gear of each shaft engages the worm marked mounted on the upper and lower horizontal shafts 41 and 42. The worms 33c, 34c, 39c and 400 of the end gear box castings are each mounted in spaced bearings indicated by the letter d and have splined bores for receiving the splined sections on the ends of the shafts 41 and 42.

The upper horizontal shaft 41 is carried by the central bearings 43 and 44 mounted in the gear box casting 12 and the end bearings 45 and 46. The lower shaft 42 is likewise supportedby bearings mounted in the intermediate casting 13, the spaced center bearings being indicated at 47 and 48 and the outer bearings indicated at 49 and 50. Thus, the upper and lower shafts 41 and 42 are supported by bearings wholly contained with the interrnediate'gear box castings 12 and 13 and the ends of these shafts extend-laterally therebeyond and are splined so as to beslidably received in the splined bore of the corresponding worms 33c, 34c, 39c and 400 as shown in Fig. 4. Thus, upon lateral movement of the end gear box castings 14 and 15, 16 and 17 from the intermediate gear Y box castings 12 and 13, the upper and lower shafts remain in contact with their respective driving units which constitutes a driving means that keeps the rotary cutting members of each row operating in timed relation.

Intermediate of the central bearings of the shafts 41 and 42 a ring gear is provided, such as indicated at 51 and 52. 'These ring gears are likewise shown in Fig. 2 andengage the vertically disposed worms 53 and 54 carried by the vertical shaft 57. The worm 54 is supported at its ends by the bearings 56 in the gear box 13 and the worm 53 is fixed to the shaft 57 which in turn is supported by the bearings 55 in the gear box 12. The lower end of the shaft 57 is splined to operate in the splined bore in the worm 54. Thus, the vertical shaft 57 constitutes a driving means that keeps the rotary cutting members of the upper and lower rows operating in timed relation and permits the upper and lower castings to be separated from one another for raising or lowering the upper row of heads relative to the lower row of heads for the purpose of changing the height of the cut in accordance with the change in the height of the seam of coal.

The upper end of the vertical shaft 57 has secured thereto the beveled pinion 58 that engages the beveled pinion 59 on the end of the horizontal shaft of the hydraulic motor 60 secured to the rear face of the upper intermediate casting 12. In like manner, the upper end of the worm 54 in the lower gear box 13 has secured thereto the beveled pinion 61 which meshes with the Each of the cutting heads is provided with a seriesof bits having double cutting teeth as indicated at 64 which are mounted in radial alignment and recede rearwardly from the axially disposed pilot bits indicated at 65. The bits 64 are radially axially spaced from one another and are arranged to cut concentric kerfs or cuts within the coal. When the machine is moved forward, the rotary cutting heads will advance with the teeth of the bits following their independent helices into the coal and chip or cut it free from the seam.

The upper row of cutting heads is positioned to the rear of the lower row of cutting heads to provide adequate space for the coal removed by the upper cutting heads to be deposited at the front of the conveyor as indicated at 66. The cutting heads in the upper and lower rows on opposite sides of the center of the machine turn in the directions to move or convey the coal toward the center of the machine from whence it is picked up by the conveyor and removed from the vicinity of the face. Thus, the shafts 33a to 36a each rotates in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4; whereas the shafts 37a to 40a rotate in a clockwise direction. 1

As indicated in Figs. 1 to 3, the lower intermediate gear box casting or support 13 has a plate 67 attached to its lower front edge and also to the depending arms 68 which are secured to the underside of the intermediate casting 13 adjacent the ends thereof as indicated in Fig. 3. The central portion of the plate 67 is cut away as indi-' cated at 70 for the purpose of receiving the front of the conveyor 66. The lower edge of the plate 67 is provided with the horizontally disposed scraping blade 71. This scrapes, cuts and chips the cusps produced between the adjacent rotary chipping heads as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby providing a smooth mine floor over which to operate the machine. This cutting or scraping blade 71 constitutes one auxiliary cutting means supported from the body to cut an increased cross-sectional tunnel area than that defined by the combined sweep of the rotary cutting heads. This blade also cuts substantially tangentially to the outer circular cuts of the lower sweep of cutting heads. The depending arms 68 also carry the under transverse plate 72 which forms a pocket for supporting the front end of the conveyor 66 from the chipping head assembly.

The conveyor 66 is made up of a continuous drag chain 73 which operates on the upper and lower conveyor surfaces 74 and 75 that are rigidly secured to the sides 76 and 77', as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. This conveyor trough extends rearwardly underneath the gear box casting 13 and then turns upwardly rising to the upper portion of the body of the machine as shown in Fig. 5 and extends rearwardly to a discharge end where the upper flight of the conveyor rounds a drive sprocket and continues back to the front of the machine along the lower flight. As shown in Fig. 5, the drag chain conveyor is made with three chains 73, each havingspaced laterally extending drag flights as indicated at 78. The conveyor is driven at its discharge end by a hydraulic motor, not shown, which receives its power from the pump 9.

In order to remove the three intermediate cusps formed between the upper row of cutting heads, the upper inter- 37 2 and 39a. respective shaft by the keys 83 which are positioned to locate the greatest radius of the eccentric downwardly -mediate gear box-casting 12 is provided with a hinged member 80 that carriestheupper scraping blade'81 which may be elevated and'retracted bythe cylinders 82.

By manipulating the pistons in the cylinders 82 one may raise or lower theblade 81 to cut any portion of the cusps formed between the upper row of cutting heads and thereby provide a mine with a smooth ceiling as well as a smooth floor. This cutting or scraping blade 81 constitutes the other auxiliary cutting means supported from the body to cut an increased cross-sectional tunnel area than that defined by the combined sweep of the rotary cutting heads. ,Thisblade also cuts substantially tangentially to the outer circular cuts of the upper sweep of the cutting heads.

By manipulating selected controls of the hydraulic cylinders or power means, one is enabled to raise the upper-row of cutting heads relative to the lower row and to space the outermost cutting heads in both the upper and lower rows from the intermediate cutting 'they decrease their overlapped relation.

The modified cuspcutters as shown in-Figs. 6 and 7 are mounted onrand driven by the eccentrics 33e, 352, Each of these eccentrics is keyed to its when the cutting'heads are folded or rotated to be disposed within the dimensions of the gear box castings. Theperimeter of each eccentric has an annular groove '84, one side of which is aremovable ring 85 to permit .-the eccentric opening ofvthe plates 86, 87, 88 and 89 -to be mounted thereon.

Wearing. rings are employed on the eccentric parts to prevent wear of the members.

The plates 86 and 89 each have vertical sets of cusp cutting teeth 90 and 91. The single horizontal cusp cutting series 92 is carried by the plate 87 whereas the cusp cutters 93 and 94 are both carried by the plate 88. Each set of cusp cutters are in the form of teeth which are bent in the direction that they chip or cut and theyare set in sockets, being held in place by the clamping plate 95. The cusp cutters 90, 91, 92 and 94 for the side and end cusps may have more teeth in their series because the heads that form these cusps may be separated vertically and horizontally. However, if the machine is designed so that the spacing between all of the rotary cutting heads is equal when they are expanded, then the cusp cutters would be the same. Thus, the length of the cusp cutter series is determined by the maximum distance between adjacent cutting head centers, either vertically or horizontally.

' tion and the eccentrics 372 and 39e rotate in the same "direction but in the opposite direction to that of the other two eccentrics. The plates 86 and 87 thus gyrate in a counterclockwise.direction while the plates 88 and 89 gyrate in a clockwise direction. In a quarter turn from that shown in Fig. 6, the plates 87 and-88 will be at the pointwhere they are closest to each other. These plates haveto cut along the lines 98 and 99 to avoid interference with each other.

Rotation of the shafts thus gyrates the plates and the teeth in the small circles as indicated in the small dotted line circles. This manner of chipping or cutting the;

-75.to cut. the cuspsbetween; adjacent cutting-circles regard,

:cusps requires materially... less power "than the blade *81 as shown in Figs. 1 and'2.

While, for .clarity of. explanation, certainapreferredem- 'bodiments of" this invention have been shown. and described, it is to be understood that this invention is capable of many modifications, and changes in the construction and arrangement may be made therein and certain parts .a tunnel larger than said body, interconnecting drive means between said gear boxes forrevolving said cutting heads, expansion and contraction motor means formoving said gearboxes to vary the spacing betweenthe rotary axes of said cutting heads to change the horizontal crosssectional dimension of the tunnel while said interconnecting driving means are operative.

2. A continuous mining machine comprising a mobile body, a set of vertically disposed-ways on the; front of said body, upper and lower central gear boxes mounted to slide on said vertical ways, jack means for supporting and moving the lower of said gear boxes relative to said body, jack means for suppor'tingand moving the upper gearbox from andrelative to the lower gear box, a set of ways projecting laterally from each side of each of said central gear' boxes, an outer gear box movably mounted on, each, set of laterally projecting ways, ajack member for moving each of said outer gear boxes relative to the first and second central gear boxes, rotary cutting heads carried by said gear boxes, interconnected drive means carried by saidgear boxes for rotating said cutting heads in timed relation to each other, and means to feed said gear boxes with their cutting members forward as a unit to cut a tunnel.

3. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that'the path of rotary movement of each of said rotary cutting heads overlaps the path of rotary movement ofits adjacent cutting head.

4. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that the 1 path of each of said rotary cutting heads overlaps the path of rotary movement of its adjacent cutting heads regardless of the relative position of the gear boxes to each other.

5. A continuous coal mining machine. comprising a mobile body, a plurality of gear box means mounted forwardly of said body and selectively connected for vertical and horizontal movement relative to eachother, each gear box means having rotary drive means interconnected with each other to synchronize their operation, a plurality of rotary cutting heads mounted on said rotary drive means to revolve in timed relation with each other, the cutting circles of adjacent cutting heads overlapping each other to simultaneously cut a single tunnel in the; coal, and motormeans to separate the gear box means-without interrupting the interconnected drive means .to vary the overlapping relation of the cutting circles of the rotary cutting heads and thereby to change theoverall dimension of the tunnel cut without disrupting the operation of the drive means.

6. The structure of claim 5 characterized in that said motor means separates the gear box means both vertically and horizontally.

7. The structure of claim 5 which also includes motor means to raise and lower said gear box means relative to said body.

8. The structure of claim 5 which also includes eccentrics on selected of said drive means, cusp cutter eccentric plate means mountedto be driven by said eccentrics T'rles's'o'f their overlapped relation,and.slidemeans interconnecting the plate means onadja'cent eccentrics, the

waxes of whichmove relative'to each other; 9; lira mining machine, a mobile body, at least one central :rotor gearbox i'assembly and two outboard gear- 1 boxassemblies, one on eachvside thereof, all mounted uponthe forward end of said body,:said central and out board gearbox assemblies being positioned in slidable relationship horizontally outwardly' with respect to each other, each of said gearbox assemblies being provided" with at least one forwardly extending rotor shaft having cutting members thereonadapted to advance axially and mine the face in front of the machine to form a tunnel, expansible drive means for imparting rotary -motin to 'said rotor shafts and in continuous driving relation" uwith said shafts at all positions, and power actuated 'means on said machine for slidably extending and retracting said outboard gearbox assemblies horizontally i to a predetermined position.

10. In a mining machine, a mobile body, at least one central rotor gearbox assembly and two outboard gearbox assemblies one on each side thereof mounted on the forward end of and in slidablerelationship with respect to said-body, each of said gearbox assemblies being provided with at least one forwardly'extending rotor shaft 1 having cutter members thereon adapted to advance ax- 1 ially-and 'mine the face in front of the machine to form *a tunnel, meansfor imparting rotary motion to said rotor shafts, power actuated means for extending and retracting said outboard gearbox assemblies horizontally to a predetermined position and for locking said gearbox j assemblies in said position.

11. A mobile miningmachine adapted to advance the whole face and remove the mined material forming a tunnel as the machine moves forward, comprising a body with a plurality of forwardly positioned and hori- I zontally, and vertically separable gearbox means, said gearbox means supporting a plurality of spaced rotary cutting members disposed on generally forwardly pro jecting parallel axes to' mine-the whole face in front of the machine when forming the tunnel through which the machine travels, characterized by drive means in each of said gearbox means for rotatingthe cutting mem- 1 hers supported thereby, and power means supported from said body to vary the horizontal andlvertical spacing between said gearbox means while mining and while the machine moves forward to effect a gradual change in the dimensions of the advancing face of the tunnel. 12. A mining machine: adapted to cut and remove the mined material in advancing the whole face to form a tunnelas the machine moves forward comprising a powdered mobile body,'-a plurality of adjacent gearbox means connected for. horizontal movement relative to .each other and mounted on the forward end of said body, rotary shafts extending from each gearbox means,

cuttingmembers mounted on said shafts, drive means in each gearbox means for rotating said shafts in timed relation, timing means connecting the drive means of each gearbox means, motor means supported by said mobile body to actuate said drive means, and power means to change the horizontal proximity of one gearb'oxmean's relative to the other while the rotation of said cutting members subsists and the machine advances to alter the cross-sectional pattern of the combined overall cut made by said cutting members.

13. The structure of claim '12 characterized in that said gearbox means also includes a plurality of gearboxes connected for vertical movement relative to each mother, timing means interposed in said drive means be- -tween the plurality of gearboxes, and power means to change the proximity of one gearbox relative to the Lother while the rotation of' saidcntting members subsist'sto alter ithe-cross-seetional pattern of the overall :cut made by;said cutting members. i

:l4bA' machine adapted to .cut and remove ;,the ,mined materialin advancing thewhole face to form -a tunnel 3 as the machine ,moves forward comprising a poweredmobjile body, support means on the front ofsaid body and connected for raising and lowering movement relative-to said body, power means carried by said body i to raise andv lower said support means, a plurality of .adjacent gearbox means connected together for horizontal movement relative to each other with one gearbox means mounted on said support means, power means 1 carried by said one gearbox means to change the proximity of other gearbox means relative thereto, rotary shafts havingcutting members and extending from each gearbox meanspdrive means in each gearbox means for rotating saidshaftsin timed relation, timing means con- -'necting the drive means of 'each gearbox means, and

motor means supported by said mobile body to actuate said drive means. 1

15. A mobile mining'machine having a frame on which at least a pair of gearboxes are mounted for horizontal movement relative to each other and each having cutting rotorsdisposed on generally forwardly projecting parallel axes and each carrying drive means for operating said cutting rotors when advancing axially into the body of the material to be mined characterized by power means forward.

16. A mobile mining machine having a frame on which at least a pair of gearboxes are mounted for horizontal movement relative toeach' other and each having cutting rotors disposed on generally forwardly projecting'parallel axes and each carrying drive means for operating said cutting rotors when advancing axially into the body of the material to be mined characterized in that the cutting rotors are laterally arranged hori- -zontally relative to each other and power means interconnecting vadjacent gearbox means to provide relative movement toward and away from each other to change the horizontal spacing therebetween and thus change I the horizontal spacing of the cutting rotors carried by said gearbox means as the'mining machine moves forward,

17 In a mining machine, a mobile body, at least one central gearbox assembly and at least one outboard gearbox assembly on each side thereof mounted forwardly of and supported from said body for move- "ment relative thereto, said .outboard gearbox assemblies being positioned in slidable relationship horizontally with respect to said central gearbox assembly, each of said gearbox assemblies being provided with at'least one forwardly extending 'rotor'shaft having a cutting member thereon, drive means carried by said gearbox assemblies for imparting rotary motion to said rotor shafts, power actuated means interconnecting said gearbox assemblies for slidably extending and retracting the said outboard assemblies horizontally, and power means to raise and lower saidgearbox assemblies relative to said body.

" References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 235,563 Parlour Dec. 14, 1880 504,179 Stanley Aug. 29, 1893 611,173 Jones Sept. 20, 1898 734,082 Nutting July 21, 1903 l-. 5 Y (Other references onfollowing page) 9 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,505 Ramsay Jan. 18, 1938 E 18 192 2,546,899 McCarthy Mar. 27, 1951 n m 19, 1926 2,548,952 Crossland Apr. 17, 1951 Maclfarren Aug. 28, 1928 5 OTHER REFERENCES McKmlay Sept 1929 Coal Age publication, May 23, 1926, page 667.

Ramsay Ian. 18, 1938 

